Toilet bowl device

Abstract

To provide a toilet device that efficiently sterilizes the inner space of a toilet.SOLUTION: A toilet device 1 comprises a bowl 12, a toilet flushing unit 13 that receives a flushing command and supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid 20, a toilet lid drive unit 22 that opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit 5, and a sterilization device 30 that sterilizes the toilet interior space A formed by the bowl and the toilet lid in a closed state. If the toilet lid is in an open state when the flushing command is received, the control unit closes the toilet lid in an upright state before flushing, and causes the sterilization device to start a sterilization process simultaneously with or after the start of a flushing process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet device.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, in order to suppress the scattering of contaminants contained in excrement, water droplets of washing water, etc. around the toilet bowl, it has been encouraged to flow washing water into the bowl with the toilet lid closed. Thereby, the scattering of contaminants around the toilet bowl is suppressed.

[0003] In Patent Document 1 below, when an operation unit for a washing operation such as a washing switch is operated, first, the toilet lid is closed. Further, in Patent Document 2 below, when a seating detection unit detects that the user has left the seat, control is performed to close the toilet lid. Thus, those that perform closing control of the toilet lid prior to washing have also been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when washing water is flowed into the bowl with the toilet lid closed, although the scattering of contaminants contained in excrement, water droplets of washing water, etc. around the toilet bowl can be suppressed, there is a risk that droplets containing contaminants adhere to the back surface facing the bowl side of the toilet lid and the seating surface of the toilet seat in the internal space of the toilet bowl. If the next user uses the toilet with contaminants adhering to the surface of the toilet lid on the bowl side or the seating surface of the toilet seat, there is a risk that the contaminants will adhere to the user. Further, since contaminants remain in the internal space of the toilet bowl, there is a risk that bacteria will grow from there.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a toilet device that efficiently sterilizes the internal space of a toilet bowl.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the toilet device of the present invention includes a bowl, a toilet cleaning unit that receives a cleaning instruction, supplies cleaning water to the bowl, and cleans the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid driving unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit, and a sterilization device that sterilizes the internal space of the toilet formed by the bowl and the toilet lid in the closed state. The control unit, when the toilet lid is in the open state when receiving the cleaning instruction, closes the standing toilet lid to the closed state before executing the cleaning, and starts the sterilization treatment in the sterilization device simultaneously with or after the start of the cleaning treatment.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] Since the toilet device of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the internal space of the toilet can be efficiently sterilized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a toilet device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The vertical direction will be described based on the state where the toilet device 1 is installed on the floor 3. Also, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction will be described based on the state where the user sits on the seating surface 24a of the toilet seat 24 with their back facing the open toilet lid 20. Further, in this specification, for both the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24, a state of standing upright substantially vertically is referred to as an open state, and a state of being tilted substantially horizontally and being substantially parallel to the opening surface of the bowl 12 is referred to as a closed state. Note that in FIG. 2, the toilet device 1 has both the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 in the open state, and in FIG. 3, the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 are both in the closed state.

[0011] The toilet device 1 discharges washing water to the bowl 12 on the condition that the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state. The toilet device 1 includes a sterilization device 30 that sterilizes the internal toilet space A formed by the bowl 12 and the toilet lid 20 in the closed state. The sterilization device 30 performs sterilization with the toilet lid 20 in the closed state in conjunction with the discharge of washing water to the bowl 12. The following will be described in detail.

[0012] The toilet device 1 includes a bowl 12, a toilet washing unit 13 that supplies washing water to the bowl 12 and washes the inside of the bowl 12, a toilet lid 20, a toilet lid opening / closing detection unit 21 that detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid 20, and a toilet lid driving unit 22 that opens and closes the toilet lid 20. Further, the toilet device 1 includes a toilet lid operation unit 23 that receives an opening / closing instruction from the user for the toilet lid driving unit 22. And the toilet device 1 includes a toilet seat 24, a toilet seat opening / closing detection unit 25 that detects the opening and closing of the toilet seat 24, a toilet seat driving unit 26 that opens and closes the toilet seat 24, a toilet seat operation unit 27 that receives an opening / closing instruction for the toilet seat driving unit 26, and further includes a seating detection unit 28. Also, the toilet device 1 includes a local washing device 31 that washes the user's local area, a sterilization device 30 that sterilizes the internal toilet space A formed by the bowl 12 and the toilet lid 20 in the closed state, and an air flow device 32 that causes the air in the internal toilet space A to flow. Next, each member constituting the toilet device 1 will be described in detail.

[0013] The toilet device 1 is a wall-mounted Western-style toilet device fixed to the floor 3, walls, etc. within the toilet space (toilet room). The toilet body 10 of this toilet device 1 includes a bowl 12 that opens upward, a rim portion 14 provided along the edge of the upper end of the bowl 12, and a skirt portion 11 that surrounds the periphery of the bowl 12. Further, above the rim portion 14, a toilet seat 24 and a toilet lid 20 that are rotatable and can be tilted with respect to the opening surface of the bowl 12 are provided.

[0014] Within the internal space of the skirt portion 11, a toilet flushing unit 13 is arranged to discharge the sewage in the bowl 12 and to discharge washing water from a water supply port 2 such as a water pipe into the bowl 12 to wash the inside of the bowl 12. This toilet flushing unit 13 has a water supply mechanism and a drainage mechanism.

[0015] The water supply mechanism includes a water supply port 2, a washing water supply path 15 that supplies the washing water supplied from the water supply port 2 into the bowl 12 from a discharge port 15b, and a water supply valve 15a arranged in the middle of the washing water supply path 15 to supply or cut off the water supply to the bowl 12.

[0016] The drainage mechanism has a movable trap 17 connected so as to extend rearward from the bottom of the bowl 12. This trap 17 is rotated in the vertical direction by a drive unit (not shown) to form a drainage state or a water-sealed state. The trap 17 drawn with a solid line in FIG. 3 is in the position in the water-sealed state, and the trap 17 drawn with a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 shows the position in the drainage form where the open end 17a faces the drain port 18. The trap 17 is surrounded by a trap case 19 so that sewage and odors do not leak to the surroundings.

[0017] Note that the drainage mechanism is not limited to the movable trap 17, and it may be a trap 17 which is a bent cylindrical body connected so as to extend rearward from the bottom of the bowl 12, and the trap 17 extends downward and is connected to the drain port 18. As this type of drainage mechanism, there are a siphon type, a siphon jet type, a siphon vortex type, etc., and it is a mechanism in which a drainage state in which accumulated water is drained together with dirt in the bowl 12 or a water sealing state in which accumulated water is stored in the bowl 12 is formed by a siphon action.

[0018] Further, the drainage mechanism is not limited to the siphon type and the movable type, and for example, it may be a wash-down type. In the illustrated example, the toilet device 1 is shown as a tankless type directly connected to a water supply without a flushing tank (low tank), but a configuration with a flushing tank may also be used.

[0019] The toilet lid drive unit 22 and the toilet seat drive unit 26 are each composed of a motor or the like. When there is an instruction from the toilet lid operation unit 23 or the like, the toilet lid drive unit 22 opens and closes (raises and lowers) the toilet lid 20 electrically, and when there is an instruction from the toilet seat operation unit 27 or the like, the toilet seat drive unit 26 opens and closes (raises and lowers) the toilet seat 24 electrically.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet device 1 is provided with three shutters 14a arranged in the left-right direction near the center of the rear side of the rim portion 14. The shutters 14a are normally closed and open in conjunction with the operation of members provided on the rear side of the shutters 14a (in this embodiment, the sterilization device 30, the local cleaning device 31, and the air flow device 32). Note that the shutters 14a are numbered 14aa, 14ab, and 14ac in order from the left side on the paper surface of FIG. 2 (the right side when the user has their back to the open toilet lid 20 and is sitting on the seating surface 24a of the toilet seat 24). The shutter 14aa opens when the sterilization device 30 sprays a spraying agent such as ozone water into the internal space A of the toilet, the shutter 14ab opens when the local cleaning device 31 operates, and the shutter 14ac opens when the air flow device 32 operates.

[0021] The sterilization device 30 in this embodiment is built into the toilet body 10 and is configured as an ozone water generator for generating ozone water to sterilize the internal space A of the toilet. The sterilization device 30 sprays ozone water into the internal space A of the toilet through a flow path 30a connecting the inside of the bowl 12 and the sterilization device 30. The sterilization device 30 sprays ozone water into the internal space A of the toilet by appropriately injecting the pre-generated ozone water into the washing water during the washing process, or by atomizing the ozone water after the washing process is completed.

[0022] The ozone water generator may be configured to store the ozone water generated on the anode side when water supplied from a water supply port 2 such as a water pipe is electrolyzed in a container having a configuration in which an anode and a cathode are separated and arranged by an ion exchange membrane (a type that allows only cations to pass through). At this time, if diamond electrodes are used as the anode and the cathode, ozone water can be generated efficiently. When sterilizing with ozone water, the back surface 20a of the toilet lid 20 (the surface facing the bowl 12 when the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state), the seating surface 24a of the toilet seat 24, etc., which are difficult to reach with the liquid, can be sterilized by the gas generated by the volatilization of the ozone water. In addition, in FIG. 3, the illustration of the connection between the sterilization device 30 and the water supply port 2 is omitted.

[0023] Note that the configuration of the sterilization device 30 is not limited to the above, and the position where the sterilization device 30 is provided is not limited to that in the illustrated example. The spraying agent sprayed by the sterilization device 30 is not limited to ozone water generated by electrolyzing tap water. The sterilization device 30 may spray a spraying agent replenished from the outside in advance into the inner space A of the toilet bowl. Alternatively, the sterilization device 30 may spray a gas generated using a chemical agent replenished from the outside in advance into the inner space A of the toilet bowl and at the same time use the air flow device 32 to flow the air to efficiently diffuse the gas. Examples of these spraying agents include, for example, hypochlorous acid water and hypochlorous acid gas. Further, the sterilization device 30 may be configured to spray fine particle ions having a sterilization and virus suppression effect generated by applying a high voltage to moisture in the air. Furthermore, the sterilization device 30 may be configured to include an ultraviolet light that is provided on the toilet lid 20, the toilet seat 24, the rim portion 14, etc. and irradiates ultraviolet rays toward the inner space A of the toilet bowl. Also, the toilet device 1 may be configured by combining a plurality of types of sterilization devices 30 as described above. Further, a spraying device for spraying ozone water or a spraying agent from the sterilization device 30 in a mist form toward the inner space A of the toilet bowl may be provided.

[0024] The air flow device 32 is a member that causes the air in the internal space A of the toilet to flow in conjunction with the disinfection by the disinfection device 30. In the present embodiment, as the air flow device 32, the drying fan of the local cleaning device 31 for drying the buttocks or the like wetted by the local cleaning device 31 is used. As the air flow device 32, instead of or in addition to the drying fan, a deodorizing fan of a deodorizing device for deodorizing may be used. When a deodorizing fan is used as the air flow device 32, the fan that rotates to suck the air in the bowl 12 for deodorization may be rotated in the reverse direction to blow air toward the internal space A of the toilet. Further, the air flow device 32 is not limited to using a drying fan or a deodorizing fan, and a dedicated fan or the like for causing the air in the internal space A of the toilet to flow may be provided. In the present embodiment, the toilet device 1 is configured to use the air flow device 32 in order to efficiently diffuse the atomized ozone water sprayed by the disinfection device 30 and the ozone gas generated by the volatilization of the ozone water in the internal space A of the toilet, but a configuration not using the air flow device 32 may also be employed.

[0025] In addition, the toilet device 1 includes a toilet lid opening prohibition means 8 that prohibits the opening operation of the toilet lid 20 while the disinfection by the disinfection device 30 is being performed. Examples of the toilet lid opening prohibition means 8 include those that apply a reverse torque to the toilet lid 20 or lock the rotation of the rotating shaft portion of the toilet lid 20 when the user tries to open the toilet lid 20 by touching it or tries to open the toilet lid 20 by the toilet lid operation unit 23. Other examples of the toilet lid opening prohibition means 8 include those that perform warning notifications such as warning sounds or lighting of a lamp by the notification unit 7 to warn the user about the opening operation of the toilet lid 20. By prohibiting the opening operation of the toilet lid 20 by the toilet lid opening prohibition means 8, it is possible to prevent the toilet lid 20 from being opened by the user during the disinfection operation of the disinfection device 30 and the spraying agent such as ozone water or ozone gas from being applied to the user. Further, depending on the type of the disinfection method of the disinfection device 30, it may not be preferable for the human body. Therefore, by prohibiting the opening operation of the toilet lid 20 by the toilet lid opening prohibition means 8, the safety of the user is improved.

[0026] The toilet device 1 includes a main body operation unit (not shown) provided on the toilet main body 10 and a remote controller 40 provided at a position separated from the toilet main body 10. These are provided with operation switches, operation buttons, etc. that can perform various operations and settings. As the remote controller 40, an infrared communication type is preferably used. The remote controller 40 is provided with a transmission unit (not shown), and the toilet main body 10 is provided with a reception unit (not shown).

[0027] As the seating detection unit 28, for example, a load sensor built in the toilet seat 24 or an infrared sensor provided near the rotation shaft portion of the toilet seat 24 is adopted. These sensors detect the seating / standing up of the user. As the toilet lid opening / closing detection unit 21 and the toilet seat opening / closing detection unit 25, those configured to detect the opening / closing state based on the opening angle are adopted.

[0028] As the human body detection unit 9, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. provided near the rotation shaft portion of the toilet main body 10 or the toilet seat 24 are adopted. These sensors detect the entry into the toilet room and the exit from the toilet room due to the approach of the user.

[0029] Furthermore, the toilet device 1 may be provided with various functional devices such as a deodorizing device for deodorizing the inside of the bowl 12 and a heating unit for warming the toilet seat 24.

[0030] Furthermore, the toilet device 1 includes a cleaning operation unit 29 that outputs a cleaning instruction for the toilet cleaning unit 13. This cleaning operation unit 29 includes a large bowel cleaning button 29a and a small bowel cleaning button 29b that output a cleaning instruction to the toilet cleaning unit 13 via a control unit 5 described later.

[0031] Note that it is desirable that the cleaning operation unit 29 is arranged on either the main body operation unit provided on the toilet main body 10 or the remote controller 40 provided at a position separated from the toilet main body 10. Also, instead of providing both the large bowel cleaning button 29a and the small bowel cleaning button 29b, it may be configured to output a cleaning instruction with one cleaning button. That is, in that case, as the amount of cleaning water to the bowl 12, there is no distinction between a large capacity for large bowel and a small capacity for small bowel, and only one type of large capacity for large bowel is provided.

[0032] The toilet device 1 controls the above control targets (such as the toilet cleaning unit 13 including the water supply valve 15a and the trap 17, the toilet lid driving unit 22, the toilet seat driving unit 26, etc.), and at the same time includes a control unit 5 that receives output signals from the cleaning operation unit 29, the toilet lid opening / closing detection unit 21, the toilet seat opening / closing detection unit 25, the seating detection unit 28, etc. This control unit 5 is composed of a processor such as a CPU or an MPU and various programs. The toilet device 1 further includes a timing unit 6 that measures the time after the cleaning by the toilet cleaning unit 13 and a power supply unit (not shown) that supplies power to the toilet device 1 and the like.

[0033] In addition, the toilet device 1 includes a notification unit 7 composed of a speaker or the like that notifies the abnormality, state, and guidance of the device by sound or voice synthesis. Note that the notification unit 7 may be configured to include a display such as an LED or a lamp that lights or blinks instead of or in addition to the one that outputs sound.

[0034] Next, an operation example of this toilet device 1 will be described based on the flowcharts in FIGS. 4 to 7. FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate an operation example when a cleaning instruction is given, and FIG. 7 illustrates an operation example when the human body detection unit 9 detects a person during the sterilization operation. Note that the following operation examples are just examples and are not limited thereto. Also, in the following description, the cleaning instruction is assumed to be by the operation of the cleaning operation unit 29, but it is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the seating detection unit 28 detects that the user has left the toilet seat 24, and a cleaning instruction is given triggered by the change from seating to leaving the seat.

[0035] In the following operation description, the detection of the opening / closing state of the toilet lid 20 and the opening / closing state of the toilet seat 24 are by the respective detection units, but the description of the operations of those detection units is omitted. Also, the opening / closing operations of the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 are by the respective driving units, but the description of those driving units is also omitted.

[0036] First, the operation of FIG. 4 will be described according to the flowchart shown in steps S100 to S106. In the following description, the operation steps of FIGS. 4 to 7, which are described as "step Sxxx", are abbreviated as only the reference numeral "Sxxx".

[0037] When the control unit 5 receives a cleaning instruction from the cleaning operation unit 29, it determines the open / closed state of the toilet lid 20 (S101). If the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, the control unit 5 starts the cleaning process (N of S101, S102). When the cleaning operation unit 29 includes a large bowel cleaning button 29a and a small bowel cleaning button 29b, if the large bowel cleaning button 29a is operated, large cleaning is performed, and if the small bowel cleaning button 29b is operated, small cleaning is performed.

[0038] On the other hand, if the toilet lid 20 is in the open state when the control unit 5 receives a cleaning instruction from the cleaning operation unit 29 (Y of S101), the control unit 5 determines the open / closed state of the toilet seat 24 (S104). If the toilet seat 24 is in the closed state, the toilet lid 20 is closed (N of S104, S105). On the other hand, if the toilet seat 24 is in the open state, the toilet seat 24 is closed, and then, or in conjunction with the closing operation of the toilet seat 24, the toilet lid 20 is closed (Y of S104, S106, S105). If the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state in this way, the cleaning process is started (S102).

[0039] Simultaneously with the cleaning process of S102, or during the cleaning process after the start of the cleaning process and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is started (S103). The sterilization process may be to spray ozone water using the sterilization device 30 which is an ozone water generation device as described above, or may be to perform the sterilization process with a sterilization device 30 having a configuration different from the illustrated example and the above-described one.

[0040] As described above, in the toilet device 1 that performs the operation of FIG. 4, the sterilization process is started simultaneously with the start of the cleaning process or while the cleaning process is being performed. Thereby, the inside of the toilet internal space A is sterilized, and the growth of bacteria is suppressed.

[0041] Next, the operation example of FIG. 5 will be described along S201 to S208. Note that the description of the parts overlapping with the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above will be omitted.

[0042] The operations of S201, S206, S207, and S208 in FIG. 5 are substantially the same as the operations of S101, S104, S105, and S106 in FIG. 4, so the description will be omitted. In short, when the user gives a cleaning instruction by the cleaning operation unit 29, regardless of the open / closed state of the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 when the cleaning instruction is received, the toilet lid 20 will be in the closed state immediately before the cleaning starts (N of S201, S207).

[0043] If the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, cleaning water is discharged into the bowl 12 to start cleaning (S202). Then, after the cleaning is completed, the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is started (S203, S205). Note that a delay of a certain time may be provided from when the cleaning is completed until the sterilization process is started (S204). When a delay is provided, the time measurement unit 6 measures the time after the cleaning process is completed (or the time after the cleaning process is started), and after a certain time has elapsed, the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is started.

[0044] Next, the operation example of FIG. 6 will be described along S301 to S307. Note that the description of the parts overlapping with the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above will be omitted.

[0045] S301, S305, S306, and S307 in FIG. 6 are substantially the same as S101, S104, S105, and S106 in FIG. 4, so the description will be omitted. In short, when the user gives a cleaning instruction by the cleaning operation unit 29, regardless of the open / closed state of the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24, finally the toilet lid 20 will be in the closed state (N of S301, S306).

[0046] If the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, the toilet cleaning unit 13 discharges cleaning water into the bowl 12 and the cleaning process is started (S302). During this cleaning process, or after the cleaning process is completed, the human body detection unit 9 performs human body detection to check if there is a person near the toilet body 10 (S303). If there is no person near the toilet body 10, the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is started (N in S303, S304). If there is a person near the toilet body 10, the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is not started until the person is no longer detected (Y in S303). In short, in the operation example of FIG. 6, the fact that the human body detection unit 9 does not detect a person after the cleaning instruction is the activation condition for the sterilization operation of the sterilization device 30. In this case, if the human body detection unit 9 is configured to operate during the cleaning process, the sterilization process may be started at the timing when the human body detection unit 9 stops detecting a person during the cleaning process, or the sterilization process may not be started until after the cleaning process is completed.

[0047] As described above, in the operation examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, on the condition that the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, cleaning water is discharged into the bowl 12 and the cleaning is started. Then, the sterilization device 30 performs sterilization with the toilet lid 20 in the closed state in conjunction with (linked to) the discharge of cleaning water into the bowl 12 (linked to the cleaning). In the operation example of FIG. 4, sterilization is started simultaneously with the start of the cleaning process or during the cleaning process. In the operation example of FIG. 5, sterilization is started immediately after the cleaning process is completed or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cleaning process is completed. In the operation example of FIG. 6, sterilization is started after no person is detected after the cleaning instruction. Thus, various timings are adopted for the start of the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30.

[0048] Depending on the sterilization method of the sterilization device 30, there are some that are not preferable for the human body. For such a sterilization method, it is preferable to adopt the operation example of providing a delay after the cleaning in FIG. 5 or the operation example of FIG. 6 where the sterilization process is not started until no person is detected near the toilet body 10. Also, for a sterilization method that does not have an adverse effect on the human body, the operation example of FIG. 4 or the operation example where sterilization is started immediately after the cleaning in FIG. 5 may be adopted.

[0049] In the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, when the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, the sterilization device 30 sterilizes the internal space A of the toilet. When the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, the spraying agent such as ozone gas volatilized from the ozone water fills the internal space A of the toilet, and the entire internal space A of the toilet, such as the back surface 20a of the toilet lid 20 and the seating surface 24a of the toilet seat 24, is efficiently sterilized. Also, when the toilet lid 20 is in the closed state, it becomes difficult for the spraying agent such as ozone gas to leak outside the toilet body 10.

[0050] Next, the operation example of FIG. 7 will be described along S401 and S402. FIG. 7 shows the operation when the human body detection unit 9 changes from non-detection to detection of a human body during the sterilization process as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. When the human body detection unit 9 detects a human body during the sterilization process, the sterilization device 30 stops the sterilization process (S401). Then, the closed toilet lid 20 is opened to an open state (S402). In short, in FIG. 7, the sterilization operation of the sterilization device 30 is set such that non-detection of a person is the operating condition.

[0051] After the toilet lid 20 is opened, if a person leaves without using (without giving a cleaning instruction), the sterilization process may be restarted. Also, after the toilet lid 20 is opened, if a cleaning instruction is issued again, the operations as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 may be performed, and the sterilization of the internal space A of the toilet may be started again.

[0052] In the operation examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the configuration is such that the sterilization process may be performed even when the human body detection unit 9 detects a person. Therefore, when adding the control of FIG. 7 to the toilet device 1 in addition to the control of FIGS. 4 and 5, when the sterilization process is started while the human body detection unit 9 is detecting a person, the sterilization process is performed as it is. Then, after a person leaves the toilet room and the human body detection unit 9 becomes non-detecting, if a person is detected again during the sterilization process, the operation example shown in FIG. 7 is performed and the sterilization process is stopped. In short, in this case, the sterilization process is stopped when the human body detection unit 9 changes from non-detection to detection.

[0053] The configuration of the toilet device 1 is not limited to those described above or the illustrated examples. For example, in FIG. 3, the sterilization device 30 is configured to spray ozone water into the internal space A of the toilet through the flow path 30a after opening the shutter 14aa. However, the configuration may be such that the flow path 30a is connected to the washing water supply path 15 without providing the shutter 14aa. In this case, the ozone water is supplied from the discharge port 15b of the washing water supply path 15 to the internal space A of the toilet.

[0054] Also, the operation example of the toilet device 1 is not limited to those described above or the illustrated examples. For example, in the operation example of FIG. 6, a delay of a certain time may be provided after the human body detection unit 9 in S303 stops detecting a person, and the detection by the human body detection unit 9 is performed again. The sterilization process may be started after confirming that there is no person. With such a configuration, even if a person who has been waiting outside enters the toilet room after a person has left the toilet room, it is possible to suppress the toilet device 1 from being in the sterilization process.

[0055] Also, a configuration may be adopted in which the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is not performed when the urine washing button 29b is operated, and the sterilization process by the sterilization device 30 is performed when the stool washing button 29a is operated. Since urine contains less contaminants than stool, the cost such as electricity cost can be suppressed by not performing the sterilization process when urine is discharged (when the urine washing button 29b is operated).

Explanation of reference numerals

[0056] 1 Toilet device 8 Lid opening prohibition means 10 Toilet body 12 Bowl 20 Lid 24 Seat 30 Sterilization device 32 Air flow device A Internal space of toilet

Claims

1. A toilet apparatus comprising: a bowl; a toilet flushing unit that receives a flushing command and supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl; a toilet lid; a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid; a control unit; and a sterilization device that sterilizes the space within the toilet bowl formed by the bowl and the toilet lid in a closed state, The toilet device is characterized in that, if the toilet lid is in an open state when the control unit receives the flushing command, it closes the toilet lid in an upright position to a closed state before executing the flush, and causes the sterilization device to start a sterilization process simultaneously with or after the start of the flushing process.

2. In claim 1, A toilet apparatus comprising a toilet lid opening prohibition means for prohibiting the toilet lid from being opened while sterilization is being performed by the sterilization device.

3. In claim 2, The toilet apparatus is characterized in that the toilet lid prohibition means issues a warning by sounding an alarm and / or lighting a light.

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